Mounting device for the spark coils of internal combustion engines



United States Patent 3,042,017 MOUNTING DEVICE FOR THE SPARK COILS OFINTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Helmut Ausserbauer and Anton Biernatzki,Ingolstadt,

Germany, assignors to Auto Union G.rn.b.H., Ingolstadt (Danube), GermanyFiled Feb. 8, 1961, Ser. No. 87,811 Claims priority, application GermanyFeb. 10, 1960 12 Claims. (Cl. 123-195) The present invention relates toa mounting device for the spark coils of internal combustion engines andmore particularly to a mounting device of this type which is secured tothe generator housing.

It has already been proposed to provide mounting devices for spark coilssecured to the engine block, but such devices require relatively longignition cables, which is undesirable as far as preventing highfrequency interference is concerned. Furthermore, the coils may beexposed at times to detrimental heating effects which may be caused bythe heat of the exhaust pipe.

According to the present invention the mounting device for the sparkcoils is secured to the generator of the internal combustion engine. Thegenerator is preferably connected to the cooling fan so that the sparkcoils are situated in the cooling stream so as to provide a cooling forthe coils so as to increase the operating life of the coils. The sparkcoils may be easily mounted on the generator housing and short ignitioncoils may be employed in this mounting arrangement so that highfrequency interference may be more easily prevented.

It is an object of the invention to provide a mounting device for thespark coils of internal combustion engines in which the device isconnected to the generator of the internal combustion engine.

It is another object of the invention to provide a mounting devicewherein the mounting device and the generator are secured to the engineby means of a tensioning band.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a mounting devicefor the spark coils of internal combustion engines wherein the coils areof short length so that high frequency disturbances may be prevented.

It is another object of this invention to provide a mounting arrangementfor the spark coils of internal combustion engines wherein the sparkcoils are located in the flow path of the cooling fan.

Other objects and features of the invention will become more apparentupon making reference to the following description and claims inconnection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the generator supporting the mounting devicecarrying the spark coils, partly in section.

FIG. 2 is a plan view from the front of the generator and engine showingthe mounting device of this invention together with the spark coils,partly in section.

The invention relates generally to a mounting device for the spark coilsof an internal combustion engine wherein the mounting device issupported on the generator and is secured thereto by means of thetensioning band or strap which connects the generator to the engine.Special means for securing the mounting device are not required and theclose proximity of the generator to the spark coils is advantageous inprotecting the coils against high frequency interference. 'I hismounting arrangement requires only one point of contact between thespark coils and the mass so that the possibility of high frequencydisturbances is considerably reduced. Although the cables of the sparkcoils are short, the coils are suificiently far removed from thecylinder head or other heat conducting parts of the engine that they arenot subjected to any heat 3,042,017 Patented July 3, 1962 exchange whichwould adversely affect their operation. The life of the spark coils isextended by the fact that they are not arranged in such a manner thatthey may oscillate by themselves on a mounting device of a low mass at ahigh frequency, but their oscillations are subject to the oscillationsof the heavier generator which provides a greater oscillation inertia.

According to the invention the base of the mounting device has asuitably rounded or concave profile or may be of a substantiallysemi-cylindrical configuration in order to correspond to the roundedsurface configuration of the generator housing. The base of the mountingdevice thus rests on the circumferential surface of the generatorhousing parallel to the generator shaft so that it is not necessary toprovide special centering marks on the generator. This makes it possibleto connect the spark coils in the proper location with reference to theaxis of the generator.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1 abracket or support 1 carries a generator 2 which is secured to thebracket by means of a strap or tension band 3 and a screw 4. A coolingfan 5 is disposed coaxially of the generator 2. An upright support 6 isclamped between tension band 3 and generator 2 by means of a baseportion 7 of the mounting device. This base portion 7 of the uprightsupport has a rounded concave profile 8 which corresponds to thecylindrical configuration of the generator. The upright support 6carries spaced upright posts or column 9 and 10 on each side of the baseportion 7. These upright posts prevent undue sliding of the mountingdevice parallel to the axis of the generator and provide additionally asimple means for mounting the spark coils 17, 18 and 19 in the properrelative position to each other. A particularly simple mountingstructure is obtained when the lower end of the post is located abovethe profile of the base portion 7. The posts 9 and 10 are preferablyhollow and their upper ends have an inside thread 11 and 12 respectivelyso that the spark coils may be secured to the upright posts by means ofscrews threaded into the end of the post. Reinforcing rib members 13,14, 15 and 16 extend upwardly along the outside of upright posts 9 and10 and provide a simple and effective strengthening means for the posts.The posts 9 and 10 are preferably of different height and inclinedtoward the front of the engine and cooling fan in order to expose thespark coils more effectively to the cooling air flow from the fan duringoperation of the engine. The spark coils are preferably disposedtransversely of the cooling stream which is more suitable for a propercooling of the coils. The spark coils are clamped by means of bands 20and 21 which are carried on posts 9 and 10 and are secured to theseposts by means of screws 22 and 23.

The mounting device according to the invention makes it possible tosecure three spark coils with only two fastening means on two uprightsupport members. Instead of using two bands 20 and 2.1 the spark coilsmay be secured to the mounting posts by means of a single band whichsurrounds the coils and forms a support means which may be united at oneor more points by spot welding.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. It is not desired to limit the invention to the exactconstruction and operation shown and described since numerousmodifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the artand accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may beapplied which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. Mounting device for spark coils of internal combustion enginescomprising a base, spaced upright means on said base for supporting saidspark coils at a skew angle to the engine air flow, a generator, meansfor securing said base to said generator, and means for securing saidspark coils to said spaced upright means.

2. Mounting device for the spark coils of internal combustion enginescomprising a base, spaced upright posts connected to said base andsupporting said spark coils, a generator, means for securing said baseto said generator, and means for securing said spark coils to saidspaced upright posts transversely of said generator.

3. Mounting device for the spark coils of internal combustion enginescomprising a base member, a generator having a cylindrical housingsupporting said base memher, said base member extending parallel to saidgenerator, said base member having a rounded, concave portion forengaging said cylindrical housing, strap means for securing saidgenerator and said base member to said engine and means for securingsaid spark coils to said spaced upright posts at a skew angle to theengine air flow.

4. Mounting device for the spark coils of internal combustion enginescomprising a base member of substantially semi-cylindricalconfiguration, upright posts connected at each end of said base member,a generator having a cylindrical housing, said semicylindrical basemember extending parallel to said cylindrical housing and defining aconcave portion for engaging said housing, a tensioning band forsecuring said semi-cylindrical base member and said generator to saidengine and means at the end of said upright posts for securing saidspark coils to said posts transversely of said generator at a skew angleto the engine air fiow.

5. Mounting device for the spark coils of internal combustion enginescomprising a generator having a cylindrical housing, a substantiallycylindrical base member supported on said cylindrical housing andextending longitudinally of said housing, hollow upright posts extendingfrom each end of said base member, clamping means for engaging saidspark coils, fastening means at the end of said hollow posts forsecuring said clamping means and said spark coils to said hollow poststransversely of said generator at a skew angle to the engine air flow,and strap means extending between said upright posts for securing saidmounting structure and said generator to said engine.

6. A mounting device as defined in claim 5 wherein the ends of saidhollow posts have an inwardly threaded portion, and wherein thefastening means for said spark coils are secured to said posts by screwsthreaded into said inwardly threaded portion.

7. A mounting device as defined in claim 5 wherein said upright postshave reinforcing ribs extending between the posts and the base member.

8. Mounting device as defined in claim 5 wherein the upright posts areof different height.

9. Mounting device as defined in claim 5 wherein said upright posts areinclined relative to said base member.

10. Mounting device as defined in claim 5 wherein said fastening meansfor said spark coils consists of two interconnected metal strips.

11. Mounting device as defined in claim 5 wherein said fastening meansconsists of a single spot welded metal strip.

12. Mounting device as defined in claim 5 wherein said spark coils aredisposed transversely of the axis of said generator housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

